Guide for sliding doors



Sept. 14, 1965 J. VINTAN 3,205,529

GUIDE FOR SLIDING DOORS Filed Nov. 12, 1963 I In M I 26 36 JOHN VM/ /?6INVE/V 0 M rJO WZ A 77'0/PNEVS United States Patent 3,205,529 GUIDE FORSLIDHNG DOORS John Vintan, Fresno, (Iaiiil, assignor of one-third eachto Alvin W. Quinley and William E. Ochinero, both of Fresno, Calif.

Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,961 6 Claims. (Cl. 16-90) The presentinvention relates to a guide for sliding doors and more particularly tosuch a guide which is adapted to be quickly and easily installed over acarpeted floor surface or mounted directly on a floor in precisepredetermined position prior to installing the doors and during suchinstallation of the doors permits their ingress and egress transverselyof the guide without disturbing the mounting of the guide on the floor.

Pairs of conventional sliding doors are normally hung from an upperroller track and provide a floor track to maintain the doors in thedesired vertical attitude. Since the lower edges of the doors areusually disposed in closely spaced relation to the floor surface, suchtracks are difiicult to install. If the track is first secured to thefloor surface, it is difficult subsequently to install the doors. Suchprocedure is difficult and frequently causes doors to be permanentlydeformed or damaged to such an extent that they do not slide freelythrough the tracks. such tracks are sometimes fitted to the lower edgeof the doors before securing the track to the floor. This is usuallyaccomplished by swinging one of the doors transversely outwardly of theother door and fitting one track over the bottom edge of the displaceddoor in a position to clear the opposite door when returned to itsvertical position. The track is then slid toward the other door toreceive the same in the opposite door track. Inasmuch as the doorscontinually cover the tracks, outboard brackets must be provided inorder to secure the tracks to the floor. Such outboard brackets areunsightly and constitute a hazard. Futhermore, such tracks areparticularly difficult to install on floors on which carpet has beenlaid before installation of the sliding doors. Because of the resiliencyof the carpet, the tracks are difiicult to maintain in the desiredelevational position relative to the lower edges of the doors and tomount with sufficient rigidity. Thus, installation of conventional lowertracks for sliding doors is tedious and time-consuming. Further, suchconventional tracks are not adaptable to all floor surfaces and aredifiicult frequently to maintain in precise operating position.

Therefore, it is a broad object of the present invention to provide animproved guide for sliding doors.

Another object is to provide such an improved guide for sliding doorswhich is quickly and easily installed over carpeted floor surfaces inprecise operating position.

Another object is to provide such a guide for sliding doors which iseasily adapted for direct installation on a floor even though the floorhas a surface covering of some type.

Another object is to provide a lower guide for sliding doors which maybe elevationally adjusted prior to installation.

Another object is to provide a guide for sliding doors which permitsfree entry of the doors into the guide tracks without forcing ordeforming the doors.

Another object is to provide a guide for sliding doors providing trackportions continuously covered by the sliding doors.

Another object is to provide a guide for sliding doors which does notrequire outboard mounting brackets.

Another object is to provide a guide for sliding doors which is capableof being installed with a minimum of time and labor.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will subsequentlybecome more clearly apparent in the following description in thespecification.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a pair of sliding doors having the guideof the present invention installed in operating relation thereto.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary somewhat enlarged horizontal section through thedoors above the guide taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectionthrough the doors, guide and a carpeted floor surface taken on line 33of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical section through the guide shown mounteddirectly on a floor surface.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the guide having end plateportions disposed in exploded relation to the guide for illustrativeconvenience.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a guide for sliding doorsembodying the principles of the present invention is generally indicatedby the reference numeral 10. The guide is preferably formed of a hardplastic or metallic material. As best shown in FIG. 5, the guide.provides an elongated substantially T-shaped base 11 having a pair ofopposite side groves 12 extended between opposite ends 16. The base alsoincludes upper and lower surfaces 18 and 19, respectively, and anupstanding center rib 20 extended from the upper surface intermediatethe ends of the base.

A pair of integral cylindrical support legs 25 are extended in dependingrelation from the lower surface 19 of the base 11 in spacedsubstantially parallel relation individually substantially midwaybetween the center rib and their respective end 16 of the base. Each ofthe support legs has a concentric axial bore 26 therethrough having anenlarged frusto-conical counterbore 27 in the upper surface 18 of thebase. The support legs further include a plurality of equally axiallyspaced circumscribing scoring grooves 28 about the periphery thereofmarking the legs into graduated segments. A pair of opposite side plates35 are individually mounted on the opposite ends 16 of the base 11 insubstantially parallel relation and have inwardly extended lower ears 36receivable into the side grooves 12 thereof to prevent rotation of theplates. The side plates are individually constrained in such position bya pair of mounting bolts 37 extended therethrough into the ends of thebase. The side plates, upper surface 18 of the base and the center rib20 thereby define a pair of door receiving tracks 40.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the guide 10 of the present invention isshown associated with a pair of inner and outer sliding doors and 46,respectively, having overlapping inner side edge portions 47 and 48. Thedoors are mounted for sliding movement in an opening wall 50 extendingupwardly from a floor 52.

As best shown in FIG. 3, a pad 54 and an overlying carpet 56 aresupported on the floor 52 which, in this illustrative environment, iscomposed of a cementitious material. The pad and carpet have a pair ofholes 57 punched therethrough to receive the support legs 25 of theguide 10. A- pair of drilled holes 60 are also formed in the floorindividually to receive lead anchors 62 which screw-threadably receive apair of elongated screws 64 extended through the bores 26 in the supportlegs 25 and having tapered fiat head portions 65 nested in thecounterbores 27.

In FIG. 4, the guide 10 is shown adapted to be mounted directly on afloor having a hardwood finish floor 72 and a sub floor 74. In suchinstallation, the legs 25 are cut off at the first groove graduation 28with the legs then being received within a counterbore 76 in the finishfloor 72 so that the lower surface 19 of the base 11 of the guide isdisposed against the-upper surface of the finish floor. through each ofthe bores 26in the support legs and screw-threaded directly into the subfloor 74.

Operation The installation and operation of the described embodiment ofthe subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is brieflysummarized at this point.

The guide is adapted to be installed in operating relation to thesliding doors 45 and 46 of FIG. 1 even after the carpet 56 and pad 54are laid on the floor 52. The

holes 47 of the carpet and pad so as to rest on the upper ends of thescrew anchors 62 in coplanar relation with the upper surface of thefloor .52., Thescrews 64 are then extended through the bores 26 in thesupport legs 25 and into the screw anchors for tightening the supportlegs 'and guide rigidly against the floor with the base 11 of the guiderested lightly against the carpet 56, as shown in FIG. 3. assemble theside plates 35 fromthe ends 16 of the base 11 so that the guide is in:condition transversely to Also, the tracks receive the doors into thetracks 40. are individually disposed in precisely aligned relation withthe sliding paths of the doors.

After such installation of the guide 10, the doors 45 and 46 are swunginwardly to their normally substantially vertical positions within thetracks 40 of the guide. side plates 35 are mounted on the opposite ends16 of the base by their respective-threaded bolts 37 to constraintransverse outward movement of the doors.

As'shown in FIG. 4, the guide of the present invention is adapted tobedirectly mounted on'the hardwood floor, surface 70 by first drillingthe counterbores 76 through the finish floor 72 to a depth correspondingto the axially spaced length of the first or uppermost graduation groove28 in the support legs 25. The support legs are then severed along suchgrooves and inserted into the counterbores 76 in the same positionrelative to the floor as the guide 10 in FIG. 3 is disposed relativeto'the carpeted floor.- In such position, the .screws 77 are insertedthrough the bores 26 in the support legs and tightened into the subfloor 74 rigidly to hold the guide in position to align the tracks 40'with the sliding paths of the doors 45 and 46. The doors are positionedwithin the tracks, as before, and the side plates 35 assembled tocapture the doors in such position.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure ofthe present invention has provided an improved guide for sliding doorswhich is quickly and easily adapted for installation on carpeted floorsurfaces or to being installed directly on a floor such as hardwood,

described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferredembodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefromwithinthe scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the detailsdisclosed herein. but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims soas to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus,

An elongated wood screw 77 is extended The side bolts 37 are removed todis- The 1 Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. A guide for sliding doors adapted to be mounted a on a floor havinga carpet thereon of a predetermined thickness, comprising a base havingat least a pair of upstanding spaced substantially parallel side membersdefining a door track therebetween, fastener means disposedwithin thetrack for mounting said base upon the floor, holding means releasablyconnecting one of said side members to the base with said side membersbeing removable from the base independently of said fastener means topermit initial transverse movement of a sliding door into said track,integral support means disposed in depending relation from the, baseadapted for extension through such a carpet for supporting'the base onthe floor having a plurality of graduated scoring grooves to faciliateremoval of predetermined portions thereof so that the support meanscorrespond in length to said predetermined thickness of the carpetelevationally position the base and track between the carpet and thedoor.

2. A guide for sliding doors adapted to be mounted on a floor having acarpet thereon, comprising a base,

a pair of upstanding spaced substantially parallel side .members,holding means releasably connecting said side adapted for extensionthrough said carpet for supporting the base on the floor.

3. A guide for sliding doors adapted to be mounted on a floor having acarpet thereon of a predetermined thickness, comprising a base, fastenermeans for connecting the base to the floor, a pair of upstanding spacedsubstantially parallel side members having integral ears embracing thebase to orient said side plates in said upstanding positions, holdingmeans releasably connecting said side members to the base, an integraldivider rib disposed in upstanding position intermediate the sidemembers defining a pair of door tracks on the base, said holding meanspermitting said side members to be removed from the base independentlyof said fastener means to permit initial transverse movement of a pairof sliding doors individuallyinto said tracks, and a air of integralsupport legs disposed in depending relation from the base adapted forextension through said carpet for supporting the base on the floorhaving a plurality of graduated scoring grooves to facilitate removal ofpredetermined portions there-of so that the support legs can be cut tocorrespond in length to said predetermined thickness of the carpetprecisely elevationally to position the basetand track between thecarpet and such doors.

4. A guide for sliding doors adapted to be mounted on a floor having acarpet thereon of a predetermined thickness with'the doors having innertransversely overlapped portions when in a closed position, comprising abase,'fastener-' members for connecting the base to the floor, a pair ofupstanding spaced substantially parallel side members having integralears adapted to embrace the base to orient the same in said upstandingpositions on the base, holding means releasably connecting said sideplates to the base, an integral divider rib disposed in upstandingposition intermediate the side members and substantially parallelthereto defining a pair of door tracks on the base, a pair of integralsupport legs disposed in depending relation from the base adapted forextension throughsaid carpet for supporting the base onthe floor beneathsaid overlapped portions of the doorsand having a plurality of graduatedscoring grooves to facilitate removal of predetermined portions thereofso that the support legs correspond in length to said predeterminedthickness of the carpet precisely elevationally to position the base andtracks between the carpet and such doors, said fastener membersindividually extended through the base, the support legs and into saidfloor having head portions continually covered by such doors whenpositioned in the tracks with said holding means permitting said sidemembers to be removed from the base independently of said fastenermembers to permit transverse movement of a pair of such sliding doorsindividually into said tracks while said fastener members maintain thebase on the floor.

5. A guide comprising an elongated base having opposite ends andoppositely spaced substantially parallel side grooves extended betweenthe ends, said base providing an integral substantially upright centerrib positioned transversely on the base and an elongated cylindricalsupport leg disposed in depending relation from the base providing anaxial bore therethrough and through the base; fastener means extendedthrough the bore; a plate individually disposed in predetermined uprightposition at one of said ends of the base in spaced substantiallyparallel relation to said center rib defining therewith a door guidingtrack transversely of the base, said plate including lower spacedintegral ears individually exendible into said opposite side grooves ofthe base restricting rotary movement of the plate but permittinglongitudinal endward movement of the plate on the base transverselyoutwardly from said track; and holding means releasably constrainingsaid plate in said predetermined upright position on the base permittingcomplete removal of the plate from the base independently of anymanipulation of said fastener means for the base.

6. A guide for a pair of sliding doors adapted to be mounted on a floorprior to installation of the doors with the doors having continuouslytransversely overlapped portions contiguous with the guide wheninstalled; comprising an elongated base having opposite ends andoppositely spaced substantially parallel side grooves extended betweenthe ends, said base providing an integral substantially upright centerrib positioned transversely on the base and a pair of elongatedcylindrical support legs disposed in depending relation from the basesupporting the base in elevated position on the floor with each of thelegs providing an axial bore therethrough and the bores extendingthrough the base beneath said overlapped portions of the doors; fastenermeans individually extended through the bores in the base and supportlegs and into the floor providing head portions continually covered bysaid overlapping portions of the doors; a pair of plates individuallydisposed in predetermined upright positions at said opposite ends of thebase in equally spaced substantially parallel relation to said centerrib thereby defining therewith a pair of door guiding trackstransversely of the base, said plates individually including lowerspaced integral ears individually extendible into said opposite sidegrooves of the base restricting rotary movement of the plates butpermitting longitudinal endward movement of the plates on the basetransversely outwardly from their respective tracks; and holding meansreleasably constraining said plates in said predetermined uprightpositions on the base and permitting complete removal of the plates fromthe base independently of any manipulation of said fastener means forthe base to permit initial transverse movement of the doors individuallyinto said tracks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,560,828 11/25Kopp 1690 2,015,269 9/35 Henry 1690 2,865,043 12/58 Cox 1690 2,908,95610/59 Brazik.

2,916,791 12/59 Guarnieri 24265 2,939,167 6/60 Preston 1690 3,118,1691/64 Foltz 1690 3,132,371 5/64 Enos et al. 16-90 JOSEPH D. SEERS,Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner.

2. A GUIDE FOR SLIDING DOORS ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A FLOOR HAVING ACARPET THEREON, COMPRISING A BASE, A PAIR OF UPSTANDING SPACEDSUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE MEMBERS, HOLDING MEANS RELEASABLY CONNECTINGSAID SIDE MEMBERS TO THE BASE, AN INTEGRAL DIVIDER RIB ON THE BASEDISPOSED IN UPSTANDING POSITION BETWEEN THE SIDE MEMBERS DEFINING A PAIROF DOOR TRACKS ON THE BASE ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, FASTENER MEANSCONNECTING SAID BASE TO THE FLOOR, SAID SIDE MEMBERS BEING REMOVABLEFROM THE BASE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID FASTENER MEANS TO PERMIT INITIALTRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF A PAIR OF SLIDING DOORS INDIVIDUALLY INTO SAIDTRACKS, AND A PAIR OF INTEGRAL SUPPORT LEGS DISPOSED IN DEPENDINGRELATION FROM THE BASE ADAPTED FOR EXTENSION THROUGH SAID CARPET FORSUPPORTING THE BASE ON THE FLOOR.